title: The ethics of refusing a request for off-label deep brain stimulation currently in clinical trial.
abstract: Physicians must ensure that patients understand that the principal aim of research is to increase generalizable knowledge. However, patients may hope for individual benefit as a secondary goal of participation. Highly motivated patients may request treatment off label if trial enrollment has ended, leading to ethical dilemmas for clinicians. This case uses early deep brain stimulation (DBS) as an example for exploring the ethically relevant questions related to the off-label use of medical devices.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charles
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000941:ethics; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000941:ethics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016079:Refusal to Treat / Q000941:ethics*